Ruby Beach

For the first time in a long time, the world is calm

Yes, the waves are cold and scrutinizing and imperceptibly fast

But we can taste the mist,

The four of us

The coastline stretches on for miles

I take pictures of all of you, because I don’t know how else to love you

Two of us, wise beyond our years

Two of us, young and free

I stood in the saltwater waiting for you here

It was too cold to swim and I laughed when one of you forgot your shirt and wandering eyes followed you in confusion when it started to rain

We got wet anyways

Stripped down to my underwear in forty degree weather

Soaked jeans and sandpaper flip flops and

we’re all just children masquerading the grown—

listening to Jimi Hendrix on the ride home and talking about the election

The fog’s coming up on the edges of the world

But that’s okay, because, just for a moment, we’ll be here